1:1 | The following is the message* which God revealed to Habakkuk the prophet:* |
1:2 | How long, Lord, must I cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, “Violence!” But you do not intervene!* |
1:3 | Why do you force me to witness injustice?* Why do you put up with wrongdoing?* Destruction and violence confront* me; conflict is present and one must endure strife.* |
1:4 | For this reason the law lacks power,* and justice is never carried out.* Indeed,* the wicked intimidate* the innocent.* For this reason justice is perverted.* |
1:5 | “Look at the nations and pay attention!* You will be shocked and amazed!* For I will do something in your lifetime* that you will not believe even though you are forewarned.* |
1:6 | Look, I am about to empower* the Babylonians, that ruthless* and greedy* nation. They sweep across the surface* of the earth, seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them. |
1:7 | They are frightening and terrifying; they decide for themselves what is right.* |
1:8 | Their horses are faster than leopards and more alert* than wolves in the desert.* Their horses* gallop,* their horses come a great distance; like a vulture* they swoop down quickly to devour their prey.* |
1:9 | All of them intend* to do violence; every face is determined.* They take prisoners as easily as one scoops up sand.* |
1:10 | They mock kings and laugh at rulers. They laugh at every fortified city; they build siege ramps* and capture them. |
1:11 | They sweep by like the wind and pass on.* But the one who considers himself a god will be held guilty.”* |
1:12 | Lord, you have been active from ancient times;* my sovereign God,* you are immortal.* Lord, you have made them* your instrument of judgment.* Protector,* you have appointed them as your instrument of punishment.* |
1:13 | You are too just* to tolerate* evil; you are unable to condone* wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people?* Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour* those more righteous than they are?* |
1:14 | You made people like fish in the sea, like animals in the sea* that have no ruler. |
1:15 | The Babylonian tyrant* pulls them all up with a fishhook; he hauls them in with his throw net.* When he catches* them in his dragnet, he is very happy.* |
1:16 | Because of his success* he offers sacrifices to his throw net and burns incense to his dragnet;* for because of them he has plenty of food,* and more than enough to eat.* |
1:17 | Will he then* continue to fill and empty his throw net?* Will he always* destroy* nations and spare none?* |